Undaria

History: from the pioneers to today

This alga originates from Japan, where it has been cultivated for several decades. It was introduced accidentally in France at the beginning of the seventies. At first, it populated the Thau Lagoon (Herault), then cultivation tests were carried out in Brittany and along the west coast (Charente-maritime).

Since the beginning of the nineties, it is included in the list of alga species authorized for human consumption.

Culture techniques and production cycle

Originally, in Asian counties, spores are collected at the end of spring and they are immediately cultivated in ponds, where a controlled light will keep them in a latent state until the month of September, at which time they are put to sea on substratum made of ropes. Harvesting takes place 5 months later.

A new technique has been developed and applied in France, based on an rather special idea from Korean scientists. Once the spores have been collected in spring, they are cultivated in laboratories using techniques close to those used for the microalgae. Through precisely controlled light and temperature, the reproducing elements (gametes) are blocked, to the benefit of the cells that give them life (gametophytes). It is then possible to produce large quantities of reproducing cells which can then be brought to maturity – any time of the year – to form gametes.

In France, so far, the production is very limited, ranging from 10 to 50 tons per year.

The production sites are in Brittany (Le Guilvinec, St Malo).

Product value enhancement

Algas are usually consumed fresh. A pickled preparation known as “sea mustard” enables algas to be preserved for a longer period of time (1 to 2 months).

A more recent product, called “cut wakame” has enabled the storage duration to be considerably extended (from 8 months to 1 year). A specific process makes it possible to obtain algas as small granulates which, once they have been rehydrated, form pieces of algas that exhibit the original taste, color and texture.

Economy

Value of Undaria pinnatifida production in the last few years ( x US$ 1,000)

Pays

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

Japan

175 726,8

107 415,1

94 510,7

101 490

125 794,3

110 015,4

South Korea

22 500

25 000

18 388,2

18 150

18 150

17 600

North Korea

49 707

45 872

56 143,4

28 757,5

28 756,3

21 244

France

6

3,2

2,8

3

1

1

Total

247 939,9

178 290,3

169 045

148 400,5

172 701,6

148 860,4

In South Korea and Japan, fish farmers have set up very powerful cooperatives which manage most of the production. The farmers rotate the use of the most productive plots at sea so that nobody is penalized.

French Market: the French production is consumed domestically. Attempts to export to Japan failed to achieve the expected success.

Strengths / Weaknesses

Strengths

Weaknesses

alga associated with "health food"

rich in vitamins and trace elements

production potential associated with ‘free living’ style

increasing interest from the food and restaurant industry

utilization as substitute for fatty products, preservation of the creaminess of products (fat-like feeling)

perceived by the public as non-food product

marché mal défini

competitive use for space with other forms of maritime activity (fishery, tourism, shellfish farming)

poor knowledge of pathologies, viruses, fungi

high rate of grazing-associated losses in open sea (herbivorous fish, isopodes)